Transit of Venus
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On June 5, 2012, the planet Venus passed between the Earth and the Sun. This will not happen again until the year 2117.
At the time of the transit, the Earth was 94,324,000 miles from the Sun. From Venus it was 27 million miles to Earth, so Venus appeared more than three times larger than it would at the same distance as the Sun.
The images below have been rotated to place the North Pole of the Sun at the top.
First contact of the transit occurred at 3:09 PM MST.
Second contact of the transit occurred at 3:27 PM MST.
The mid point of the transit occurred at 6:29 PM MST.
The sun set part way through the transit.
This composite image was assembled from pictures taken at approximately 25 minute intervals.
Transit of Venus from Scottsdale, Arizona on June 5, 2012: You can buy this photo as prints as large as 14" x 14".
On Sunday, May 20, 2102, the Moon passed between the Earth and the Sun. The Moon was near Apogee, the high point in its orbit, so it did not cover the entire face of the Sun, resulting in an annular eclipse.
The eclipsed Moon was visible over Goleta early on the morning of August 28, 2007.
The Perseid Meteor Showerr peaked on Monday, August 13, 2007.
The planet Mercury passed directly between the Earth and the Sun on Wednesday, November 8, 2006. First contact occurred at 11:12 AM PST. Final contact occurred at 4:10 PM PST.
Early in the morning on Friday August 12, 2005, I drove to the top of the Santa Ynez Mountains to observe the Perseid Meteor Shower.
I drove up to the crest of the Santa Ynez Mountains above Santa Barbara at 3:00 in the morning on Thursday, August 12, 2004 to photograph the Perseid meteor shower.
Here is a collection of Moon photos and animations, including the total lunar eclipse that occurred on October 27, 2004.
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